[SERKIT]

Do we really know where Mousavi stands or would he simply be a slightly-less anti-American Iranian leader? The Mooo-lahs have to go either way. Barry’s silence is deafening.

[cripplecreek]

Mousavi isn’t a huge change. Mostly the same old stuff but wants to tone down the rhetoric.

That said, the fact that he’s openly opposing the mullahs who approved him is very encouraging.

[calex59]

Mousavi is not quite as bad as Imanutjob, close, but he wants to get rid of the Basij and give women more rights. He is still one of the Mullahs men. The Iranians need to get rid of the Mullahs and start a whole new form of government, one that isn’t run by religion(especially Islam)

[snippy_about_it]

I understand why many people are encouraged and sympathize with the revolutionaries, it’s hard not to root for rock throwers against an armed government. That said, it will be more of the same imo. It will be more of the same as far as the west is concerned. For the people themselves, they may be better off. They will still be taught to hate us as Mousavi and Akmadinijad hate us. Mousavi supported the Iran hostage taking.

http://middleeast.about.com/od/iran/p/mir-hossein-moussavi-profile.htm

[Jeff Head]

I believe this thing is outrunning the “candidates”. The many, many young people (and a lot of the older ones too) of Iran want freedom, not another puppet to tyranical Islamic rule.

I believe we could see the birth or republicanism in Iran, but it may very possibly become much more bloody before it is over. The Basij and many in the Revoultionary Guard are not likely to go quietly.

The key is, “What will the regular Army do?” And will they (say, Like Washington) be willing to take part in ending the Islamic tyranny and then hand it over to a new, true Republic?

At this point, the people may not accept anything less.

One thing is sure...it is Bush’s direct engagement, support of liberty, and policies that are driving this. Still bearing fruit. Obama is trying like crazy to spin this to his advantage, but we cannot let him lie and try and steal it. His policies would have made this impossible...just as they would have made Iraq impossible.

[Fabozz]

Here's the thing: If a popular uprising can put Mousavi into power, then a later popular uprising can take him back out of power if need be. This lesson will not be lost on Mousavi, and it definitely won't be lost on the Iranian people. Plus, optimistically, Mousavi is issuing statements that suggest he'll be a kinder, gentler theocratic thug: "Previously, he was revolutionary, because everyone inside the system was a revolutionary. But now he's a reformer. Now he knows Gandhi – before he knew only Che Guevara."